The Nickel Report

Hours after being inaugurated for his second term, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order entitled Unleashing American Energy. The Executive Order broadly states that it is the policy of the United States to encourage energy exploration and production on Federal lands and waters, ensure continuous energy supply, as well as establish the country as the leading producer of nonfuel minerals.  

The Extended Producer Responsibility (“EPR”) movement for packaging is growing in the U.S., marking a shift in how some states are approaching waste management and recycling. Rather than leaving municipalities to bear the full cost of waste management and recycling programs, states with EPR programs are poised to shift costs associated with building out recycling infrastructure to producers of products covered by EPR requirements. In 2024, there were significant legislative, regulatory, and programmatic developments in several states. We expect these trends to accelerate in 2025, as several programs reach the initial implementation phase of their EPR programs.